Dogs primarily communicate by using body language. They can talk to us through a bark, whine or yip, but their body position and stance are key factors to understanding what your dog may be feeling at the moment. Since they can’t just come out and say ‘hey, I’m not doing the best right now,’ it’s up to us pet parents to invest in understanding the signs and symptoms of our pets in distress.

In order to understand what distress signals your dog may be giving off, it’s important to know what your dog looks like when they’re relaxed. Here are some of the signs that you have a comfortable dog on your hands:

• Their eyes will be soft and rounded and their coloring will be easily seen.

• Their ears will be semi erect and forward, unless they have floppy ears.

• They will have a relaxed mouth that looks like they’re smiling.

• They have a relaxed posture with loose shoulders and evenly distributed weight in their paws.

• Their tail is high and wagging.

A relaxed dog is a happy dog and that makes for happy pet parents; but surroundings, people and objects can make your pet go into distress mode quickly. Environments, situations and even people can start to stress your dog out and simple everyday activities can start to put your dog in pain as well. As pet parents, knowing the difference between a comfortable and an uncomfortable dog can really help your pup out. 

We’ve broken down distress into two categories: stress and pain. If your dog is experiencing stress or anxiety due to their environment, current situation or someone around them, you may expect to see these signs to give you a clue to their mood:

Whining, barking and growling can be seen in an anxious dog and is their means of communicating to you that something is making them anxious. Their barking may be uncontrollable because of how they feel and growling will oftentimes be a warning sign that they are not comfortable with what is happening around them. 

Never underestimate the importance of body language when it comes to your dog. Anxious dogs will have tucked ears, a tucked tail and raised hackles aka the hair on their back may be standing up. They may shift all of their weight to their rear legs and cower, oftentimes becoming rigid. They can have dilated pupils and blink rapidly when they become anxious too.

If your dog gets stiff, or freezes, it often signals that they are stressed out about something they see. Modern dog training practices tell us that this is actually the dog’s body shutting down with the next step possibly being a bite due to the amount of stress the dog is feeling at the time.

Pacing back and forth is often a sign that your dog cannot settle down or get comfortable because something is stressing them out.

Hiding or escape behaviors may occur during a stressful situation or environment. Some dogs may move behind their owners to hide or may nudge them to get them moving to avoid the stress that is around them. Other dogs may partake in escape behaviors by digging, circling or slinking behind a tree as a diversion to what is making them feel anxious. 

Being able to differentiate between their normal demeanor and their stressed behaviors is the first step in helping them overcome their anxiety. Remove your dog from the stressor (i.e. the environment, person or object) and find a quiet place for him to regroup and calm down. Following basic and routine commands is a great distraction for your dog and can provide a sense of normalcy, which can help reduce their stress and bring them back to a relaxed state. Exercise is also a great stress reducer because physical activity can help release tension. 

If your dog is experiencing any pain, watch out for these signs and symptoms to help you become more aware:

Vocalizations from a dog in pain come out in groans, grunts and whimpers. If something hurts and they are trying to stand up or sit down, your dog may grunt and groan due to the pain. Whining and whimpering can come from them trying to settle themselves and finding a way to become more comfortable in their state. 

Mobility issues can start to form when a dog is in pain. They may pace, become restless or continuously stand up and sit down to try to get comfortable. Trembling legs, trouble getting in and out of the car and being reluctant to go up and down the stairs can also be signs that your dog is in pain. A lapse in house training may happen if it becomes too painful for them to get up and move.

Some dogs will lick and chew obsessively at the areas of the body that are in pain. This can ultimately result in them removing hair and causing skin damage.

They may act out of character when it comes to aggression towards others, whether it be people or pets in the household. Growling or lashing out if handled can relate to them being in pain, especially if someone is trying to pick them up near the area that is in pain. They may resent being brushed or combed and take on a defensive posture when lying around the house, always watching everyone and everything to avoid any painful encounters that may happen.

Changes in their facial expressions can also be clues on how they’re feeling. Dogs in pain may pant excessively even while resting and their mouth can be in the form of a grimace. Their eyes may have a vacant stare, wide-eyed look or may appear half asleep with partially closed eyelids.

If your dog seems to be in pain, the best course of action to take is a call to your veterinarian for next steps and a possible check-up. Being aware and understanding how your dog communicates with you when they’re feeling a certain way  is a great way to stay proactive with your dog's health. 

Exercise is a GREAT stress reducer for dogs, so why not get yourself a daily dog walker! Fresh air, gravel under your feet and green trees are calling your name to get your dog outside more and Going Mutts Pet Services is here to help. Walking releases tension AND energy to make your dog one happy pup, so contact us today to see how we can help with your pet care needs.

Sources:

https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/how-do-i-know-if-my-dog-is-in-pain

https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/advice/how-to-tell-if-your-dog-is-stressed/

https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/signs-your-dog-is-stressed-and-how-to-relieve-it